of akron



Sept. 7, 1926. 1,599,376

C. H. SMiTH MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER COMPOSITION Filed Oct. 11, 1922 Q q INVENTOR 61,414.75 M .5147 Th BY W ATTORN Y Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

. iJNi Eo sraras 1,599,325 serum OFFICE.

CLAUDE H. SMITH, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORTO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

IiTACHINE FOR THAI-Z11? Application filed. Gotober 11, 1922.

My invent-ion pertains to fibrous composition and it has particular relation to a new type of machine for making the same.

One object of my invention is to provide an original method of making material of the character in question by which the fibers are very well matted. Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which permits of practicing the aforementioned novel method in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Heretofore, it has been customary to manufacture fibrous material in continuous sheets by means of a Fourdrinier machine, as commonly employed in the manufacture of paper. In machines of this character in question, the fiber is deposited upon a moving screen immersed in a liquid in which is suspended a quantity of fibers. By means of a suction creating device disposed adjacent to the movable screen, the liquid in which the fibers are suspended is drawn through the screen, depositing the fibers upon the screen as it passes therethrough. The suction is usually rather high and the fibers are frequently forced at a high rate of speed .nto the fiber mat being formed on the screen. Owing to the velocity with which the fibers move, and the force with which they are disposed in their final position, there is but little opportunity for them to assume the proper and desired felted relationship.

By my invention I have obviated the objections to the aforementioned prior art by permitting the fibers a relatlvely long period of time in which to assume a sultable matted relationship on the screen before having the liquid in which they are suspended removed therefrom.

The accompanying drawing is a crosssectional view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

1 have shown a container 3 having a bottom member 1 and an inclined side wall 5. Disposed adjacent to the upper edge of the inclined wall 5 is a suction producing apparatus 6. The tank 4 is provided with an opening 7 in one of the side walls thereof which permits the overflow of liquid therethrough.

A carrier belt 8 is disposed partially within the tank 3 and partially outside of the same. The carrier member 8 passes over two idling rollers 9 disposed beneath the G- FIEER COMPOSITION.

Serial No. 593,984.

tank, over a pulley 10 disposed at the rear end of the tank, over a submerged pulley 11.

through a horizontal plane 12, disposed in proximity to the bottom member 1, under a second submerged pulley 13, through an inclined p ano 14c disposed in proximity to the inclined side wall 5, over a pulley 15, dis posed at the front end of the machine, into engagement with the suction producing deice 6, and over a pulley 16, thence to the pulleys 9.

The directions of movement of the belts 8' and 17 are indicated by the arrows 8 and 17 r spectively.

The belt 8 may be driven by any one of the pulleys with which it is in engagement, and in like manner, the belt 17 may be driven by any of the pulleys 13, 18 or 20. It is essential however that the belts 8 and 17 be driven at exactly the same speed for a reason to be hereinafter pointed out.

In practicing my invention the fibers are admitted to the tank 3 from a container 21 by means of a conduit 22, disposed adjacent the rear end of the tank 3. The fibers are suspended in a liquid, and on being admitted to the tank 3 tend to settle in the rear corner thereof, as indicated at 23. The liquid flows throughout the tank and overflows through the port 7. The carrier member 8 is moved slowly in the direction indicated by the arrows 8" and the settling fibers are deposited thereon as it passes through the horizontal plane 12. As the belt 12 is moved very slowly the fibers are given ample time to settle, in their natural felted positions. The fibers are deposited upon the belt-8, as indicated at 2 1 and are carried through the plane 12 into the inclined plane 14. As the fibers pass over the pulley 13, they are engaged on the open side by means of the porous belt 17, which passes through the inclined plane 19 in engagement with the fibrous material. The inclination of the belt 17 between the pulleys 18 and 13aids in. causing settling of the fibers on the belt 8 in the plane 12 by tending to strain out the liquid in which they are immersed and to gradually compress the fibers.

As the material is carried over the pulley 15 a relatively large quantity of water drains therefrom. The material is then carried over the suction box 6, which serves to remove any liquid which may remain in the material disposed between the belts. After passingthe suction producing device 16, the material is fairly dry and, being well matted will remainin the condition in which it leaves the. machine, as illustrated at 25, and enters a drying machine, (not shown) which constitutes a subsequent manufacturing' process.

It will be apparent from the description and the illustration that the fibers are given a considerable period of time in which to settle in a satisfactory felted relationship, and. that the material is protected on both ides until it leaves the machine, thus preventing any injury thereto or any disturbance of the felted arrangement of the fibers.

Itis necessary to drive the belts 8 and 17 at exactly the same rate of speed, as the felted arrangement of the fibers will be disturbed unless this condition prevails.

Although I have described and illustrated but a single form. which my invention may assume, it will be apparent to those skilled inv the art that it is not so limited but that various minor changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from. the, spirit of my invention or from the scope. of the appended claims.

hat. I claim is:

1. A machine for. manufacturing fibrous material. which comprises a tank adapted to receive and contain a suspension of fibrous material, an endless porous member adapted to move slowly. through the lower portion oi? the tank, wherein the fibrous material is deposited in. matted relation, and an auxiliary porous member adapted to engage and move out of the tank with the formed mat.

2. A machine for making a fibrous material which comprises a tank having a substantial-lfy level bottom and an inclined side wall, a. porous endless belt disposed partially within the tank, and adapted to move in close proximity to the bottom and the in clined sidewall thereof, and a second endless belt disposed partially within said tank andsubstantially parallel with that portion 1 of. the. first mentioned belt which is in prox imity'to the inclined side wall.

3; A machine for making a fibrous mate rial which comprises a tank having a sub stantially level bottom and an inclined side wall, a suction producing device disposed adjacent the said side wall. and a porous endless belt disposed partially within the tank and adapted to move in proximity to the bottom and to the inclined side wall thereof, and over said suction producing device, a second endless belt disposed partially within said tank and substantially parallel with that portion of the first mentioned belt which is in proximity to the inclined side wall and in engagement with the vacuum producing device.

a. A machine for making a fibrous coinposition which comprises a tank having a substantially level bottom and an inclined sidewall adapted to contain a quantity of fibers suspended in a liquid, and a suction producing device disposed adjacent the top of said inclined side wall, a porous endless beit disposed partially within the tank and adapted to move in close proximity to the bottom and to the inclined side wall thereof and in en agement with said suction producing device, the portion of the belt disposed in proximity to the bottom being adapted to have a quantity of fibers disposed thereon in malted relationship, the portion of the belt in proximity to the inclined side wall being adapted to transport the matted fibers from the bottom of the tank to the top thereof, the portion of the belt in engagement with. the suction producing device being adapted to support the material while liquid is being drained therefrom, and a second endless belt disposed partially within said tank and in engagement with the fibers disposed upon the inclined plane of the first mentioned belt and also the portion thereof in engagement with the vacuum producing device, said second belt being adapted to move with the first mentioned belt.

5. A machine for making a fibrous material which comprises a tank adapted to contain a quantity of fibers suspended in a liquid, a carrier member adapted to move through the tank and to lave deposited thereon a quantity of fibers. and an endless belt member adapted to move through an inclined plane within the tank and tending to dc.- posit the fibers on the carrier member and adapted to move through a second inclined plane in engagement with the fibers deposited on. the carrier member.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto signed. my name.

CLAUDE H. SMITH.

El (J llli) 

